A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Gardening in the Shade Ideas needed

Many of you know that DOT widened my road and had to cut down some big trees. This is what used to be an almost totatlly shaded area.




last summer, after 3 trees were cut, I noticed that the hosta was struggling in the heat. Now 2 more trees are gone so I know this year it's going to be misery for the poor hosta if I live it in that area so I'm going to move it. I need ideas for sun perrenials to put in this area that will stay green all summer.

Osteospermum do well as do Galliardia (Blanket flower)in full sun. The first is annual but often reseeds itself. My Russian Sage is fairing well also. Angelonia, (Serene white) is an annual but it does well too in full sun.
oand OH!! Echinasea do VERY well in full sun.
The good news is there are many varietire of The Galliardia & the Echinasea.
forgive my spelling but you know: the Blanket flowers & the coneflowers

As I have said there is Hosta that do well, or at least OK in Sun.

So sad about teh Trees & the Hostas. I do so hope there is a place to transplant them to.

I have some of those you mentioned in my flower garden and they do well here but they don't look good all season. I'm hoping to find something that will stay fresh looking, like the hosta did, all season.

You could try a mini Weigela.

It is a shrub but the 'My Monet' variety grows between 12 and 18 inches...when it flowers it's beautiful but then you have the gorgeous green and white variegated leaves spring, summer and fall also. I also have the 'minuet' variety but it has all green leaves.

They have the compactness that the hostas have..I'll p.m. you a link to a pic.

How about Asters or Hardy Geraniums?

Are you looking for the same height and effect as the hostas?

I didn't know that about My Monet guess I didn't ready your PM well enough. I'll check that out because I would like to have the same size as the hosta. An advertisement on here about a blue chip miniature butterfly bush looks like a good idea too.

Thanks.

How about a variegated yucca? Mine do very well in full all day sun, and the high flower stalks are very nice. The color even stays all throughout winter, though the leaves get a bit squished here under the snow.

I tried to buy one last year and a loca; nursery told me they were having trouble with the plant & were trying to adjust teh plant structure Or some such. and I should check back this year. so ask about the hardyness if it 7 such before yo purchase it. I did like the looks of a pictuer of it though.

The white serena Angelonia blooms all season & is beautiful. but 1 and try it tehis year to see. I also bought a purple one last year & it was not nearly as nice.--in fact it died mid season.

really ?? very interesting.......

Butterfly bushes are beautiful...but they won't overwinter here, even though I've tried to no avail.

Lynne, I like that idea. I have room for variegated yucca and smaller plants.

One word,, Brugmansia


They will Love the sun there!


And IF the brugs get big enough they will shade the hosta's

Diane, you'd have to come care for them.

Diane - my brug cuttings that are in Butterscotch's room have spider mites all over them!!! Waaaaah! I was hoping not to have this problem this year. I do think Charles who is in the basement by the sliding door has them now as well.

Can't spray anything in Butterscotch's room - what should I do?

okie dokie Sheri

Lynne,, I would Just do the soap and water spray After you wipe the leaves down with rubbing alcohol :wink:
It could be the dry heat that is getting the spider mites active,, Connie a friend of mine sets her's on top of pebbles in a deep dish she said it seems to do the trick so far spider mites isn't giving her a problem now,, So maybe a little Humidity would help???

You have a nice spot for a compact China rosebush, like "Comtess du
Cayla" shown here:


Right in front of your picket fence would
do fine.

Wondering what you planted?

I planted Blue Chip butterfly bushes. They stay small and don't have to be dead headed.

Can't wait for pics once they bloom.

I'll get pictures. they're blooming now. I have to wait until my arm is better. I have trouble getting in the right position to get clear pictures. They look exactly like a big one only minature. They smell good too. I always hated having to deadhead my other one that Cindy sent me. It was too big to dig up and the road took it.

Sheri, are your Blue Chiop doiong well, you say??
I wanted to buy one a few years ago & the nursery where I was, said that they weren't carrying any because there was a problem & that the company was genetically modifying them. well last few years I didnt get to plant any--- so now I was wondering.
Do you have it in the ground or in a large planter???

They've only been out a while and so far so good. They're new to our area. I've never seen them before and had to wait for the nursery to get them for me.

sheri---could we have an update on the Blue Chip Butterfly bushes??/
and perhaps a photo or 2???

The bluechip is doing fine. I haven't been taking a lot of pictures since I broke my arm because it's hard to hold the camera and get a decent shot but I'll give it a try.